Prospect Info: 2024-25 Prospect Thread

[periferal]

The Athletic

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6037690/2025/01/14/nhl-prospects-rankings-under-23-2025/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=5520309

139-player-long list of the top NHL players and prospects under 23.

Isles:
86) C Danny Nelson
102) RW Cole Eiserman
137) G Markus Gidlöf

Chap-

As I'm sure you know, Pronman is a certain type of jounalist/analyst and so his lists are far from gospel. He's usually grading a player on what he believes his upside is (based on raw skill & his feeling about the player), as opposed to breaking down the player with a more nuanced take. With respect to Pronman he seems to really put in the time to research almost every prospect out there and since basically no other journalists do that (even scouts are regional/league based and don't see everyone), that's what's led him to pretty much be the #1 name in terms of prospect analysis.

Alas that doesn't mean he's good what projection. As mentioned above, Pronman is the type of writer who grades on a curve leaning towards high-end skill - Regardless if the player is likely to have a long career. Thus when you look back 5+ years later he often misses on the "average-skilled" prospects in terms of his rankings.

So always interesting to see his lists, but when I read them I am always taking them with a massive grain of salt.

FWIW, the owners seem to have upped the investment in staffing, including scouts. Compared with the Wang years it's night and day. Go to the team website and look under "business directory". I count 18 total scouts (pro and amateur), 4 analytics people, 5 player development guys, etc..

Does anyone know how the scouting department today compares with it when wang (or any previous owner) was the owner. Would be very interesting to see as to me the most important things any owner can spend on are GM and the scouting department. If you are great in those to fields then you have the backbone of a championship level franchise.

 

[xECK29x]

Chap-

As I'm sure you know, Pronman is a certain type of jounalist/analyst and so his lists are far from gospel. He's usually grading a player on what he believes his upside is (based on raw skill & his feeling about the player), as opposed to breaking down the player with a more nuanced take. With respect to Pronman he seems to really put in the time to research almost evrey prospect out there and since basically no other journalists do that (even scouts are regaional/league based and don't see everyone), that's what's led him to pretty much be the #1 name in terms of prospect analysis.

Alas that doesn't mean he's good what projection. As mentioned above, Pronman is the type of writer who grades on a cruve leaning towards high-end skill - Regardless if the player is likely to have a long career. Thus when you look back 5+ years later he often misses on the "average-skilled" prospects in terms of his rankings.

So always interesting to see his lists, but when I read them I am always taking them with a massive grain of salt.




Does anyone know how the scouting department today compares with it when wang (or any previous owner) was the owner. Would be very interesting to see as to me the most important things any owner can spend on are GM and the scouting department. If you are great in those to fields then you have the backbone of a championship level franchise.

I've long had issues with Pronmon, this last piece just seems really sloppily put together and barely edited for consistency, he took a lot of what he wrote about these players on draft day and recycled it. I don't think Pronmon actually "scouts" he just watches games and provides his opinions. Scott Wheeler on the other hand has a history of working with independent scouting services, goes to games and has connections with front offices across all levels of hockey. I trust his prospect rankings and analysis over anything else at the Athletic but both are garbage compared to actual independent scouting services such as McKeen's and Future Considerations.

- not claiming to be a source or anything but I strongly agree with this analysis.

 

[doublechili]

In 2021, Pronman had Kakko ahead of Makar, Quinn Hughes and Heiskanen on the list. He had Erik "I Just Cleared Waivers" Brannstrom at #59 that year, a couple of spots behind #57, Arthur "Hey, At Least Someone Picked Me Up When I Was on Waivers" Kaliyev. So yeah....

 

[Arsenalogist24]

New York Islanders are No. 25 in 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings

After hanging onto their 2024 first-rounder and picking twice in the second round, the Islanders' pool got a much-needed boost.

www.nytimes.com

If you wanna save a click (detailed analysis, I recommend the read

1. Cole Eiserman
2. Jesse Pulkkinen
3. Marcus Gidlof
4. Isaiah George
5. Danny Nelson
6. Calle Odelius
7. Quinn Finley
8. William Dufour
9. Kamil Bednarik
10. Cam Berg
11. Xavier Veilleux
12. Matt Maggio
13. Zach Schulz

 

[Glorydays22]

New York Islanders are No. 25 in 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings

After hanging onto their 2024 first-rounder and picking twice in the second round, the Islanders' pool got a much-needed boost.

www.nytimes.com

If you wanna save a click (detailed analysis, I recommend the read

1. Cole Eiserman
2. Jesse Pulkkinen
3. Marcus Gidlof
4. Isaiah George
5. Danny Nelson
6. Calle Odelius
7. Quinn Finley
8. William Dufour
9. Kamil Bednarik
10. Cam Berg
11. Xavier Veilleux
12. Matt Maggio
13. Zach Schulz

Interesting that Jefferies is not on that list over guys like Dufour and Maggio.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Interesting that Jefferies is not on that list over guys like Dufour and Maggio.

Agree I feel that’s a miss, maybe aged out? He’s succeeded at every level he’s been at so far in college and now AHL.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Interesting that Jefferies is not on that list over guys like Dufour and Maggio.

And to have a guy like Schulz in the list, but not WJC participant Nurmi?

Nurmi has been underwhelming in London - for sure - and the spot he was supposed to fill has bee adamantly assumed by Blake Montgomery (wow, has that guy exploded on the scene), but both Nurmi and Jefferies should be in a list of top 10 NYI prospects, much less one with 13 mentions.

This said, Wheeler had plenty of good things to say about just about every player he spoke about and he's making these list for all 32 teams.

There are going to be some little omissions here and there.

 

[saintunspecified]

This said, Wheeler had plenty of good things to say about just about every player he spoke about and he's making these list for all 32 teams.

I don't understand why Dufour would be on any list at all. He's not an NHL player.

Nurmi did not impress me.

I can only make judgements based on what I've been able to watch (I'm leaving Pulkkinen and Gidlof off because I have no basis to compare)

1. Eiserman
2. George
3. Nelson
4. Finley
5. Jefferies
6. Odelius
7. Bednarik
8. Maggio


I'm not down on Bednarik per se, but in retrospect Ziemer would have been a better pick. Still only 18, and really displayed a mix of hockey sense, a super motor, with decent skill. Coach's favorite type, for sure.

Boy they need a lot out of this upcoming draft. But it's still better than it's been.

 

[seafoam]

New York Islanders are No. 25 in 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings

After hanging onto their 2024 first-rounder and picking twice in the second round, the Islanders' pool got a much-needed boost.

www.nytimes.com

If you wanna save a click (detailed analysis, I recommend the read

1. Cole Eiserman
2. Jesse Pulkkinen
3. Marcus Gidlof
4. Isaiah George
5. Danny Nelson
6. Calle Odelius
7. Quinn Finley
8. William Dufour
9. Kamil Bednarik
10. Cam Berg
11. Xavier Veilleux
12. Matt Maggio
13. Zach Schulz

Out:
Dufour
Schulz

In:
Jefferies
Gamzin

Argument could be made for Nurmi as well, but he is too raw to justify over someone like Berg.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I don't understand why Dufour would be on any list at all. He's not an NHL player.

This is where I think Wheeler, as an outsider, doesn't have the full context of what's been going on here.

Dufour has fallen off the map.

I'm not down on Bednarik per se, but in retrospect Ziemer would have been a better pick. Still only 18, and really displayed a mix of hockey sense, a super motor, with decent skill. Coach's favorite type, for sure.

Boy they need a lot out of this upcoming draft. But it's still better than it's been.

This! So this!

In one area of my hockey world, I was a very avid proponent of Ziemer. My advocacy was not necessarily one others in the discussion shared. I saw him as 2nd round material. Others didn't see him in the top 100.

He went 71st overall.

As usual, time will tell.

But he's got all-round complementary player written all over him. He's a jack of many trades and can play with highly skilled players in a manner that helps them be their best.

His being on the WJC team despite being just 18 and only having a "decent" offensive start to his college career was no surprise to me.

And he did just what he does, adding complimentary scoring and putting up a + rating.

Definitely one whose path I'll follow closely.

As for Bednarik, my viewings of him at the U18 Worlds had me thinking he was a guy the Isles would be interested in and sure enough, they were. I do think he'll be on the WJC team next year, but I'm not expecting any notable offensive contributions coming until he's a junior.

Don't know what he projects as at the moment.

 

[saintunspecified]

His being on the WJC team despite being just 18 and only having a "decent" offensive start to his college career was no surprise to me.

And he did just what he does, adding complimentary scoring and putting up a + rating.

I think having bottom-6 players who are under team control is underrated given the salary structure of the NHL these days, especially given how early star players make big bucks. Pick guys who have plus brains and one other above average quality while being average at least in other areas, and off you go.

 

[Glory Days]

I think having bottom-6 players who are under team control is underrated given the salary structure of the NHL these days, especially given how early star players make big bucks. Pick guys who have plus brains and one other above average quality while being average at least in other areas, and off you go.

I generally agree but I would only follow that strategy starting in round 3. In the first 2 rounds the Isles need to draft for star players as that is likely the only way they are getting one.

 

[leeroggy]

I generally agree but I would only follow that strategy starting in round 3. In the first 2 rounds the Isles need to draft for star players as that is likely the only way they are getting one.

Star players in Rd 2? That's kind of LUCKY . . .